Store-service apparatus.



APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1912.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

GUM/M211 L'OLUMHIA PLANOGRAPH C0-. WASHINGTON, D, c-.

inn slaw HARRY L. WILSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Ap paratus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to store service apparatus, and has for its object to produce an improved mechanism for propelling a cash parcel carrier along a track or way.

In order that the invention may be understood, I have in the accompanying drawings, illustrated an embodiment thereof, without, however, by such illustration, intending to limit the invention in its practical applications to the exact and specific mechanism shown. 1

In such drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of one end of a store service system to which my invent-ion is applied. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3is an outer end view. Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates a track, which is preferably formed of a pair of parallel taut wires disposed in a horizontal plane, and along which travels a wheeled car 3 adapted to support and carry a cash or parcel receptacle. These parts of the apparatus may be of any usual or preferred construction, and a single wire track with a car adapted to travel thereon may be used instead of the double wire track and car herein illustrated, as my invention is equally applicable to either type of store service apparatus. The track wires are secured at one end to a block 5 pivotally supported in a bracket 6, which, in turn, is mounted upon the vertical hanger 7 about which it is free to turn. Another block or support 8 is pivotally mounted in the bracket 6, preferably directly above the block 5 to which the track wires are secured, and in or to it are secured the ends of a pair of rods 9, 9, that extend forwardly therefrom substantially parallel with the track. They constitute part of the supporting frame for the stationary pulleys over which run the propelling cord, and serve as a slideway for a take-up frame in which are mounted the movable set of pulleys for the same cord. The forward ends of the rods 9 support a frame 10 in which are mounted a set of pulleys 11 around which Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 16, 1912.

Patented Feb. 3, 191%.

Serial No. 684,138.

pass the propelling cord 12. The frame 10 supports a bracket 13 extending downwardly therefrom and carrying a plate let or other support for the track wires, said bracket and plate serving to maintain the track and the frame 10 in practically fixed relations to each other under all conditions.

15 represents a slide frame or take-up supported so as to move freely along the guide rods 9. It carries pulleys 16 about which pass the propelling cord 12. This cord preferably has its ends secured, at 17, 17 in the slide frame 15, and each section thereof passes from its point of attachment, 17, forwardly to and around one of the upper pulleys, 11, in the stationary frame 10, thence backwardly to and around a pulley 16 in the slide frame or take-up, 15, thence forwardly to and around one of the lower pulleys 11 in the stationaryframe 10, and thence backwardly to the loop 18 which unites the two sections of the'cord. This loop may either be an integral part of the cord itself or, preferably and as shown, a piece of coiled wire, which prevents the rapid wearing of the cord, in a well known manner. The loop lies upon the track 2 just inside of the frame 10 and in the path of an incoming car.

As will be seen' by reference to the drawings, the pulleys 11 supported in the stationary frame are arranged in two sets and are preferably located vertically one directly over the other. The two sets of pulleys and the parts of the frame 10 in which they are supported, are located such distance apart, transversely, as to permit the car to freely pass along the track between them. In passing the frame 10 the wheels of the car 3 straddle the bracket 13, in a two-wire track system, like that shown.

As is quite common in apparatus of the type to which my invention belongs, the frame of an incoming car takes up the loop of the propelling'cord and carries it along with the car toward the end of the way. In so doing the cord is drawn off from the supporting pulleys, and the slide frame or takeup 15 is moved forwardly along the rods 9, that is, in a direction opposite to that in which the car is traveling. The movement of the slide '13 is, however, much slower than that of the car, owing to the fact that a multiplying set of pulleys is employed, back and forth over which passes the cord.

Some form of stop for gradually arresting the motion of the car as it approaches the end of the track is employed, as for instance, a rub plate or bar 29 with which the frame of the car or a contact piece carried thereby, engages. This bar is preferably a strip of spring metal located between the two wires constituting the track way and secured at one end to a plate 28 supported by the wires of the track and at its opposite end to the block 5. A spring buffer or stop 20 is usually employed at the end of the track.

21 indicates the pull cord by which the slide frame 15 is moved when it is desired to operate the propelling cord to start the car upon its travel. This pull cord is provided at its free end with a handle 22 which is arranged within convenient reach of the operator. It extends from the handle upwardly over a directing pulley 23 mounted in the block or support 8, and thence forwardly parallel with the track, preferably between the rods or bars 9. In its course it passes freely through the slide frame 15 which it operates, but is not directly connected therewith. Instead, it is connected by a spring 24: with the stationary frame 10. This spring is preferably a light coiled spring merely sufficient in power to draw the handle 22 of the pull cord upwardly, and is capable of considerable extension.

25 represents a knot in the cord 21, or its equivalent, such as a ball or button, to which the end of the cord is fastened. This knot is sufficiently large to prevent the end of the cord 21 from being drawn through the aperture in the slide frame, through which the cord passes.

26 is a stop mounted upon the rods 9 and arranged to arrest the backward movement of the slide frame or take-up. I prefer to arrange bufier springs 27, surrounding the rods 9, between the slide frame and the stop bar 26, to prevent destructive or disagreeable shocks in operating the apparatus.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, that the spring 24 connected with the pull cord, when free to act, always moves the cord to a position with its handle raised to the highest point it is intended to occupy. The knot 25 in the cord is so located that, when the cord is in normal position under the action of the spring 24, the slide frame 15 just engages therewith when the propelling cord has been drawn off to the extreme extent possible, that is, when the carriage reaches the end of the track and is in engagement with the buffer 20.

The parts being in the position just re ferred to, if the handle of the pull cord be drawn rapidly and forcibly downwardly it will carry the slide frame or take-up backwardly, and in so doing move the loop 18 of the propelling cord, now in engagement with the frame of the car, rapidly forwardly. These movements may be continued until the slide frame is arrested by the stop bar 20,at which instant the loop of the cord is close to the frame 10,-and will result in imparting to the car such an impulse as will carry it the length of the way, or to the other end of the system, in a manner well known in this art. As soon as this propelling impulse has been imparted, the handle 22 is released, whereupon the spring 2% will restore the pull cord and its handle to normal positions, without, however, moving or in any way affecting the sliding take-up 15 or the propelling cord.

hat I claim is 1. The combination with a way on which runs a carrier, a propelling cord for the carrier, a set of stationarily supported pulleys over which the said cord passes, a slide frame carrying other pulleys around which the said cord passes, means for moving the slide frame in one direction but free from permanent connection therewith, and a spring for returning the said operating means to a determined and operative position ready for re-actuation thereof, said spring acting independently of the slide frame.

2. The combination with a carrier of a way on which runs said carrier, a propelling cord for the carrier, a set of pulleys over which the said cord passes, a slide frame carrying another set of pulleys for the cord, a support for the first set of pulleys and for the slide frame, means over which the said slide frame freely moves arranged when moved in one direction to move the slide frame to draw the cord and propel the carrier, and means for restoring the said means,

after being moved to operate the slide frame,

to a determined and operative posit-ion, ready for re-actuation thereof.

3. The combination with a way on which runs a carrier, a looped propelling cord for the carrier, a set of stationarily supported pulleys over which the said cord passes, a slide frame carrying other pulleys around which the said cord passes, a pull cord for operating the slide frame in one direction but free from permanent connection therewith, and a spring for returning the pull cord, after actuation of the latter to a determined and operative position, ready for reactuation thereof, said spring acting independently of the slide frame.

4:. The combination with a way on which runs a carrier, a propelling cord for the carrier, multiplying pulleys about which the cord passes, a slide-frame in which certain of said pulleys are mounted, and a pull cord passing freely through the slide without being connected therewith, the pull cord carrying an enlargement which engages with the slide frame when moved in one direction,

and a spring connected with the cordfor moving the pull cord to a determined and operative position, ready for re-actuation thereof, said spring acting without affecting the slide frame.

5. The combination with a flexible wire track way on which runs a carrier, a propelling cord for the carrier, a stationary frame supported above the track near one of its ends, pulleys for the propelling cord supported in the said frame and arranged so that they straddle the track way, whereby the carrier passes'between them when moving underthe frame into an engagement with said cord, and a depending bracket carried by the said frame for supporting the track way, the level of said pulleys being close to that of said track-way, and the portion of the cord below said pulleys and extending forwardly from the carrier, when in engagement with the latter, being parallel to said track-way.

6. The combination with a double wire track way on which runs a carrier, means for propelling the carrier along the way, and means for gradually arresting the movement of an incoming carrier comprising a flexible strip of spring metal located between the wires of the track way, and secured at its forward end to a plate supported by the track wires and at its other end to part of the framework to which the ends of the track wires are connected.

HARRY L. WILSON. Witnesses J. E. PAGE, FRANCES LAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01 Patents Washington, D. 0. 

